Lexi's Feeding Tube

So please STOP donating! Lol!

Seriously, I may have to give back your donations lol. Lexi is doing MUCH better and actually may NOT NEED the feeding tube!

She's begun to eat on her own periodically (still not regularly or enough but it's a start), she's cleaning herself, trying to play, drinking a bit, actually LOOKING for food quite often, nagging in the kitchen again, trying to get in our plates if we eat on the couch -- all VERY strong indicators that her appetite is on its way back.

I'm hugely relieved, even though the feeding tube apparently looks way scarier than it actually is. Supposedly most cats don't even know it's there, but of course, if it's not necessary, I'd certainly rather not have it put in.

I could swear she's put on weight too. Due to Joe's schedule lately, we've been simply unable to coordinate with the clinic's opening hours to actually get her in for a checkup and to be weighed, but her spine doesn't feel so prominent, nor does her chin (where she loves best to be scratched) feel so damn bony.

So again, thanks so MUCH, all of you who have donated but DON'T anymore lol. If things take a turn for the worse again, who knows, maybe I'll eat those words but she is seriously doing much MUCH better.

We've been very, very touched by your support through this. Much love from me, meows from Lexi.

Mina xoxoxo

Just had to come by and share more love for one of my favorite camgirl crushes, Tanya Ducati.

You know why, darling xoxoxox You are too kind, so beautiful and someone should really start a fund for us to hook up either here or in England *wink!* Thank you SO much! Xoxxoxo

Lexi is hanging in there but did not have a good day yesterday -- fair warning, details may gross you out.

Her attitude is still good, and we are seeing some good signs: she's nagging us in the kitchen fairly frequently, investigates her food bowls a couple of times a day now (but still won't always eat) and ate some cooked chicken breast yesterday -- all of which indicates her appetite WANTS to come back. The few times she actually has eaten, it's been with more energy than I've seen in a month.

But she had constant diarrhea all day yesterday, which of course likely further dehydrated her. And I couldn't get her out from under the recliner last night for her final feeding and IV treatment. The vet and I confer at least a couple times a week on the phone and as soon as I'm slightly more awake, I'll be calling to ask her about this.

One thing that kept me hopeful throughout her illness has been a notable LACK of vomiting or diarrhea, which would have been an indicator of more serious liver issues, so it's appearance yesterday seriously concerns me.

And despite the (generally) 4 feedings a day (50 ccs per feeding = on full can of food) plus whatever else I can tempt her to eat, she still does not feel like she's gained any weight. When petting her, I feel every single knob of her vertebrae, all the way down her back. I am literally feeling her spine through scant flesh.

When I speak to the vet, she'll likely want her weighed and to have her really juiced up with a double IV treatment.

When we do her fluids, we aim for 100 ccs, but the trick is to keep her still and distracted, while I insert what looks like a darning needle through the scruff of her neck and try to pump fluid under the skin. Sometimes we do ok, other times she won't tolerate more than a few minutes, despite how thrilled she always is by any attention from Joe. He gets in front of her and massages her cheeks and chin, I get behind her shoulder and start at her.

But when necessary, we take her to the clinic to have a vet tech do it instead, in which case, they'll often double the dose to try and keep her for a few days.

On another note, I do have one piece of good info, in the "good to know" category. I dropped by the clinic yesterday, without Lexi, to pick up food and refill her pre

Just a quick word to let you know, there is another way to donate, if you'd like to help us get Lexi a feeding tube to combat her liver disorder.

If you've got a Rude profile, so do I and you can tip me there. They seem to limit "page tips" to $20, but that will still get you a free month's membership to my website and it all adds up and helps us get closer to our goal. Be sure to message me and let me know you've contributed so I can thank you and reward you.

And those who have contributed already, thank you so much -- your generosity touches me so much.

Another note on how Lexi's doing -- yesterday, she actually cleaned herself, including her face, for the first time in a month! If you've seen the video of me syringe feeding her, no doubt you've seen the incredible mess it makes.

I use a bib on her (if you can believe I actually get a bib on a cat lol) but each shot of food is very dribbly, and wiping her cheeks and mouth with a cloth cleans some of it, but much is literally ground into her fur. She (and I and the whole darn house) just REEKS of rotten cat food.

So definitely a good sign and when she gets the feeding tube, that too will no longer be an issue. Cleaner, faster, less stress for her, less mess for me. Not to mention that she'll actually get the full amount I give her. We aim for 50 ccs (mls) each feeding (amounting to a full can of pre

Thanks so much, my dear friends, James and Tanya! Xxoxoxo You're both are too kind and I am constantly amazed at how my friends are there for me in times of trouble.

Lexi's doing pretty good the last couple of days and has been friendly and outgoing, but still woefully thin --even my sister in law noticed when she dropped by the other day and she isn't really a "cat person" who would notice such a thing.

We did her IV last night, so she's juiced up for a day or so. Good thing too, because we're having a bit of a heat wave and where she's not drinking much beyond the odd lick at the faucet, dehydration is a constant worry. Especially since she's a cat and loves the heat. As soon as I open the back balcony door, she's straight outside, and sprawled in the sun.

But her attitude is still very good, and she's actually begun to follow us about the kitchen again, which I'm taking as a sign of hunger.

Disclaimer: links NSFW.

As most of you know, especially if you're a Twitter follower, my cat Lexi has been fighting a liver disorder for about a month now. It's killed her appetite -- she literally stopped eating and drinking completely -- and she must be hand-fed 4 -5 times a day, injected with fluids subcutaneously every 2nd day and is on 2 appetite stimulants. Her normal weight is about 11lbs and she is down to about 8.

I force-feed her with a huge syringe, which is what has kept her alive. it's not pleasant for either of us and the drawback is that as her health improves with the feedings, she becomes well enough to get seriously pissed at me every time I have to feed her. Which stresses her and kills her appetite again. Which puts us back at pretty much Square 1.

She HAS gained an ounce in the last month and is beginning to at least nibble a bit on her own but nowhere near enough or regularly. IF she's in the right mood, and I put food in front of her, she may nibble. She MAY play with and drink a bit of water from the shower faucet. But it's like she's forgotten how and only regular aggressive nutritional therapy will bring her appetite back. But the force-feedings piss her off and almost undo any ground gained.

The vet now recommends a feeding tube, surgically inserted into her esophagus, leading down to her stomach, that I'd then shoot the food into without having to pick her up, put her in a headlock and squirt it down her throat. Apparently the insertion itself requires only about 20 minutes under anesthesia and most cats hardly notice it's there.

Force-feeding a cat through this condition can take months apparently, and I'm frankly exhausted. But I can't give up. If she was so old and so far gone that all she's doing is suffering, I would put her down. But she's only 7 and is still very friendly, sweet and social.

I can't afford this and her treatment so far (including a week in the hospital back in early June) has already costt $1200. Please donate whatever you can. I need very little to go through life happily, but my cats are part of what I need.

Any donations will be rewarded with the equivalent duration of FREE complete access to my websites and houseful of 24/7 Spycams!

Thanks and please help spread the word, if you know of any cat-lovers.

Mina xoxoxo